Pleasure Island (2 page)

Chapter Two
The Girl in the Green Dress

As Nikki was smoothing out the wrinkles in her dress, she sensed she was being watched. She glanced around but couldn’t see anyone. Putting it down to nerves, she screwed up her courage and decided to try her luck at the main entrance to the hall. She hadn’t gone more than a couple of steps when she heard something click behind her. Turning, she saw one of the French windows open and a man in a dinner jacket step out. At first, she thought she had been rumbled by security and had half a mind to make an excuse and beat a hasty retreat. However, before she had a chance to do so, the man addressed her.

‘Please don’t be alarmed,’ he said.

‘I’m not,’ she replied, trying to keep her voice steady.

He approached and introduced himself. ‘Matt Darnley, at your service.’

She curtseyed in response. ‘Nikki Foster.’

‘A pleasure.’ Matt bowed slightly. Nikki found herself acting instinctively and offered him her right hand. She was only expecting him to shake it; however, Matt raised it to his mouth and kissed it. The touch of his lips felt thrilling and sinful. ‘I was wondering if you could spare a moment, Ms Foster?’

Feeling her confidence return she asked, ‘What for?’

‘My employer would very much like to meet you.’

‘And who might that be, Mr Darnley?’

‘If you’d care to step this way, I’ll be happy to show you.’

Taking a huge risk, Nikki decided to come clean with him. ‘I’m afraid my ticket doesn’t permit me entry to the main hall.’

For a second she thought her gamble had misfired badly, as Matt nodded solemnly. ‘I appreciate your honesty.’

‘I was …’ she began.

He held up his hand to silence her. A faint smile played across his lips. ‘But what are rules if not to be broken?’

Nikki breathed a huge sigh of relief. Matt then turned, opened the French doors and ushered her inside.

Although she had done her background research on the residence, nothing could have prepared her for the splendour of the interior of Morton Hall. The corridor in which she now found herself was decorated in the baroque style and boasted several period pieces. The paintings and tapestries were exquisite. The owner clearly had a taste for mythology because many of the canvases depicted tales of Norse, Greek and Roman Gods.

One in particular caught Nikki’s eye. A striking female figure was reclining at the water’s edge, surrounded by maidens and nymphs. All of the women in the picture were naked. The nymphs were aghast, for a young hunter had stumbled upon them. The youth regarded the scene in open-mouthed wonder. The way his body was half-turned suggested that he was trying his best to look away, only his eyes were riveted on the central female figure, the hunting goddess Diana. The look on Diana’s face was difficult to interpret. Her expression seemed to be part anger, part intrigue, as if she wasn’t entirely certain how to react to the young man’s presence. Should she give in to temptation and invite the youth to join her? Or should she take offence at his temerity and have him turned him into a stag and hunted down by his own hounds? Knowing her classical mythology reasonably well, sadly, Nikki knew the poor youth’s outcome.

‘It’s a Titian,’ Matt informed her.

Nikki’s eyes widened. ‘An original?’

He laughed. ‘I doubt it. I would have thought it’s a reproduction, but you never know.’

As he guided her down the corridor, she couldn’t help glancing over her shoulder at the painting. Diana’s eyes seemed to follow her as she went. The goddess smiled enigmatically. Nikki silently hoped that she hadn’t somehow incurred the deity’s wrath. She knew how unwise it was to displease the gods.

At the end of the corridor, before entering the ballroom, Matt reached into his left jacket pocket and fished out two eye-masks. He offered one to her. ‘You’ll need this; most people inside are wearing them.’

Nikki accepted the gift gratefully, slipped the mask on, and nodded to him. Playing the gentleman once again, Matt opened the large double doors. Nikki had never seen such a magnificent room in all her life. It looked like something out of a Jane Austen novel. Half a dozen candelabra made of the finest lead crystal lit the grand hall, but instead of period furniture, it boasted a roulette wheel, blackjack table, dice and several other enticing booths at which to lose your soul. Money and champagne flowed freely and the vast majority of the guests seemed to be having a riot of a time.

The Earl of Rutland himself, one of the country’s most eligible bachelors, was standing at the end of the dice pit, surrounded by a bevy of nymphs who wouldn’t have looked out of place in the painting that Nikki had just been admiring. He was the only person in the room who wasn’t wearing a mask. He loosened his collar and raised his dice aloft. Silence descended around him. Barely looking, he held them out to one side. The sultry brunette standing there obediently kissed them. The Earl whispered his thanks, shook them, and cast them down the table.

The dice were black onyx; the numbers embedded in their faces were cut diamonds. The light dazzled off the jewels as the dice bounced and bumped down the velvet-cloaked table. Nikki couldn’t see where they came to rest, but she knew that they must have done, for the Earl and his entourage let out loud whoops of excitement. He then called for champagne, to celebrate his latest slice of good fortune.

To get a better view, she approached the table, and as the Earl retrieved the dice, he noticed her for the first time. He cupped them in his left hand and held them out towards her, inviting her to kiss them. She shook her head. ‘I’m afraid I don’t gamble.’

The Earl raised his eyebrows in surprise. He reached inside his jacket pocket, withdrew a gold-plated cigarette case, flipped it open, and offered one to Nikki. She declined. The Earl looked intrigued, if a mite disappointed. He snapped the case shut and clicked his fingers. As if out of nowhere, a glass of champagne appeared in his right hand and he offered this to her too. ‘Please tell me you have at least one vice.’

She nodded as she accepted the drink.

The Earl laughed. ‘Thank God for that. A virtuous life is so dull, don’t you think?’

Nikki declined to answer. As she took a sip from the glass, the Earl tried his best to entreat her once again. She remained resolute, though, and so he had to return the dice to the lips of the brunette. As he cast them down the table, Nikki took her leave of him. The shout that went up behind her told her that he had won again. Some people seemed to have all the luck.

An athletic girl, who was wearing a striking green cocktail dress, detached herself from the mantelpiece where she had been leaning and approached Nikki. ‘Not many people say no to the Earl.’

‘Do you think I’ve offended him?’

‘All the better if you have. Everyone needs to be denied that which they desire once in a while.’

‘Why’s that?’

The girl in the green dress grinned mischievously. ‘Because it makes them want it all the more.’

Nikki laughed. ‘You make it sound as if the Earl wants me.’

‘Why wouldn’t he? You’re beautiful.’

‘Thanks,’ she replied, somewhat surprised at the directness of the compliment.

‘Even if you don’t belong here.’

‘What makes you say that?’ Nikki grinned nervously.

The girl toyed with the rim of her glass before replying, ‘Because we both know that you don’t have an invite that allows you into the hall.’

Nikki tried her best to play the innocent. ‘I don’t know what you mean.’

‘Yes, you do.’ Nikki was about to object, but before she could do so, her companion continued, ‘Don’t worry, I’m not about to snitch on you.’

‘Thank you.’

‘As long as you tell me why you ran the risk.’

Nikki glanced around. They weren’t in earshot of anyone else, although Matt was still watching closely. She lowered her voice. ‘Why should I trust you?’

The girl shrugged. ‘No reason at all.’

Disarmed by her new companion’s honesty, Nikki confessed, ‘I’m trying to secure an interview.’

‘With the Earl?’

‘No. With someone much more elusive.’

‘Who?’

‘Roxanna May,’ Nikki whispered.

‘Ah, the princess.’

‘Do you know her?’

The girl in the green dress thought long and hard before replying. ‘Vaguely.’

‘Is there any chance you could put in a word for me?’

The girl pursed her lips. ‘It won’t be easy. She guards her privacy with a passion.’

‘Please.’

While she considered Nikki’s request, the girl finished her drink. Then she looked around to make sure that no one was watching and retreated towards a set of doors in the corner of the room. With a curt nod she bade Nikki follow her. The two women entered a small ante-room. Double-checking that no one had followed them, the girl whispered, ‘Very well, I’ll do my best with the princess if you grant me one tiny wish first.’

‘What’s that?’ Nikki asked.

‘Kiss me.’

‘Excuse me?’

‘Kiss me.’

‘But I don’t … I mean … that is to say …’

The girl finished her sentence for her. ‘You’ve never kissed another woman before?’

Nikki shook her head. A glint lit up the girl’s hazel eyes. Behind the slits in her face mask, they sparkled like the dice at the Earl’s table. ‘All the better.’

Nikki bit her lip. ‘One kiss?’

The girl nodded.

‘Nothing more?’

Another nod.

Nikki took a deep breath. It was only one little kiss – would it really hurt? ‘Very well,’ she said and puckered her lips.

Her heart began to beat faster and she felt the back of her neck tingle. At first, she thought it was fear, but then she realised there was something more than that. There was a faint hint of a sensation that she hadn’t experienced since her first-ever kiss as a teenager; it was a feeling of intrigue. As their lips came into contact, the girl caressed her; her left hand slipped on to the nape of Nikki’s neck as her right reached around her back and pulled their bodies tight together. Her lips felt much softer than any Nikki had kissed previously. It felt so exciting and thrilling.

When it became clear that Nikki wasn’t going to shy away, the girl grew bolder and gently parted her lips with her tongue. As Nikki felt it begin to explore her mouth she responded enthusiastically. Only when the girl’s right hand began to stroke the curve of her bottom did she pull away.

‘I’m sorry.’ Nikki apologised.

‘What for?’

‘I-I’m not sure.’

‘Then don’t be sorry.’ The girl in the green dress stroked her lips with the back of her hand. ‘And you say you’ve never kissed a girl before?’

Nikki shook her head.

The girl raised her eyebrows. Nikki thought that she heard her murmur a soft “wow” under her breath.

‘Do you always kiss so passionately?’ the girl asked.

‘I think so.’

The girl looked impressed.

Returning to the matter at hand, Nikki asked, ‘Will you put in a word for me, then?’

‘A deal’s a deal,’ the girl replied.

Nikki hugged her companion, then realised that after what had just taken place it might not have been the wisest idea, for she didn’t want to give her the wrong impression. ‘Sorry.’

‘No apology needed,’ the girl said.

‘So when do I get to meet Roxanna?’

The girl glanced at the throng of partygoers in the main room. ‘It’s not going to be easy. I don’t think the princess would ever grant an interview here.’

‘But you said …’

Ignoring the interjection, the girl continued. ‘I think you need to meet her somewhere private. Somewhere secluded, far away from prying eyes.’ Suddenly, she rounded on Nikki. ‘How well do you know the house?’

‘Hardly at all.’

‘Hmm. There’s the main staircase in the entrance hall, but that’s not going to be much use to you because security will be watching. However, there is a back staircase, which was originally built for the servants. Ask Matt to show you where it is. At the top of the stairs take a left, then the first right. That should bring you out on to the main upper corridor, along which you’ll find six doors, three on the right, three on the left. Enter the first on the right and wait for the princess there.’

Nikki glanced across at Matt. ‘Can I trust him?’

‘Implicitly.’

Nikki could think of a lot of words to describe Matt Darnley. She wasn’t sure that “trustworthy” would be one of them.

‘By the way, whatever you do, don’t take the second door on the right,’ the girl warned.

‘Why not?’

‘That’s the Earl’s room.’

‘And he’d have me thrown out?’

‘I think he’d do a lot worse than that,’ the girl said.

Before Nikki had a chance to ask what she meant, one of the security staff approached the pair.

‘Go,’ the girl whispered, ‘I’ll deal with this.’

Nikki tried her best to look as casual as possible as she wandered off. Glancing back over her shoulder, she was quite surprised to see that, rather than give the girl in the green dress a hard time, the security guard adopted a deferential manner.

She didn’t have time to give the scene much thought though, as, not looking where she was going, she bumped into Matt. He caught her in his arms. ‘Easy!’

Nikki pulled away from him.

‘Let me guess, the room on the right at the top of the back stairs?’

She eyed him suspiciously. ‘Are you a lip reader?’

‘Let’s just say, when you’ve been employed by Milady for as long as I have, you get to know how her mind works.’

‘You mean …?’ Nikki indicated the girl in the green dress.

Matt nodded.

‘Who is she?’

‘You didn’t recognise her?’

‘No, should I?’

Matt smiled enigmatically. Nikki tried her best to get him to reveal the girl’s name, but he steadfastly refused. Perhaps he was trustworthy after all. He led her to the bottom of the old servants’ staircase, which was unguarded.

‘Good luck,’ he whispered.

‘Thanks,’ she replied.

As she ascended the stairway, Matt smiled and said to himself, ‘I think you may well need it.’

Chapter Three
The Bet

At the top of the stairs, Nikki took a left turn as instructed, then paused. To her chagrin, there was no corridor to her right. There was another tiny stairway, but that looked as if it led to an attic. The only other option was the main corridor to her left. She bit her lip and deliberated. After a few seconds, she decided to gamble on the corridor rather than the stairway.

She hadn’t gone more than a few steps when one of the doors to her left eased open. Quickly, she darted into the room opposite it to hide, holding the door slightly ajar so she’d be able to see whoever came out of the room. She didn’t recognise the couple in question, but it was clear, from the dishevelled state of their attire, what they had been up to. Before rejoining the party below, the pair lingered for a moment to share a final embrace.

As she watched, Nikki felt something brush against her arm; then she heard a woman’s voice ask, ‘Anything interesting going on out there?’

Nikki spun around. A hand reached out and clicked the lights on in the room, and she found herself face to face with the girl in the green dress. The girl peered through the crack in the door at the couple and nodded understandingly. She clucked her tongue appreciatively. ‘Ah, I see.’ Then she closed the door.

Nikki felt somewhat annoyed. ‘Have you lured me up here under false pretences?’

Ignoring the comment, the girl crossed over to the dresser and raised a bottle of champagne. ‘Drink?’

‘No, thank you. I won’t be staying.’ Nikki’s hand closed around the door handle.

‘You don’t want your scoop, then?’

‘Of course I do. I can’t see any sign of Roxanna here, though.’

‘Hasn’t a clever girl like you worked out who I am yet?’

Slowly, comprehension dawned upon Nikki and she took a closer look at her companion. Perhaps it was because the girl’s chestnut hair was drawn back in a short, tight, ponytail, whereas it usually fell to her shoulders. The strong jawline should have been a dead giveaway, though. Reaching around the back of her head, Roxanna May undid her face mask and discarded it.

Nikki had no idea why she did what she did next, but she bobbed a curtsy. ‘Your Highness.’

Roxanna laughed. ‘If only I were.’

Bursting with eagerness to begin the interview, Nikki reached into her handbag and withdrew a small digital Dictaphone.

‘What are you going to do with that?’ Roxanna asked.

‘Use it to record the interview.’

The girl shook her head.

‘But you promised.’

‘No. What I promised was to arrange a meeting with the princess. If you want to interview me, I might be prepared to grant that as well, subject to certain terms.’

‘Which are?’

Roxanna went over to the bed and sat upon the edge of it. ‘You seem a very driven girl, if you don’t mind me saying so.’

‘I suppose I am,’ Nikki admitted.

‘I’m guessing you’re the dedicated type. You work hard to get the few breaks that come your way and are determined to make it to the top one day.’

‘Yes.’

‘The question is, do you have the most important commodity of all?’

‘Which is?’

‘Luck.’

‘I think you make your own in life,’ Nikki said.

‘Interesting,’ Roxanna replied, clearly intrigued. ‘How much are you prepared to gamble on getting this interview, then?’

‘You can’t even begin to guess how much I’ve gambled just to get this far.’

‘I probably can, actually, so I’m sure you won’t mind one last throw of the dice.’ Roxanna held out her right hand to reveal one of the Earl’s diamond- studded dice.

‘What are you suggesting – that I risk my whole career on one throw of the dice? Why should I?’

The glint returned to Roxanna’s eyes. ‘Because it’s fun.’

‘It may be for you, but not for me,’ Nikki pointed out. ‘I stand to lose everything.’

‘So do I, in a way.’

‘How do you work that one out?’

‘Because that’s how highly I value my privacy,’ the princess said.

Though she wasn’t overly happy with the situation, Nikki didn’t see that she had much choice. ‘What are your terms, then?’

‘That’s the spirit,’ Roxanna said. ‘Right, one roll of the dice. If it lands on an even number, I grant you a full exclusive.’

‘Including what you get up to on that island of yours?’

‘Absolutely.’

‘What if it’s an odd number?’ Nikki asked.

Roxanna ran her eyes over her before replying. ‘You have to spend the night here, in this room, with me.’

Nikki’s heart skipped a beat. ‘You can’t be serious?’

‘I assure you, I very much am.’ Roxanna held out the dice. ‘It’s decision time, Ms Foster. Do you feel lucky?’

A sudden reckless urge coursed through Nikki’s veins. She sauntered over to Roxanna, took the dice out of the princess’ hand, and began to shake it.

She cast it onto the bed; both girls held their breath. The dice landed right on the very edge of the covers. Though it was at a slight angle, it looked as if it had landed on a three. As Roxanna shifted her body weight to get a better look, she disturbed the dice. It trickled off the far side of the bed and fell onto the floor. Such was Nikki’s anxiety to see which number had come up, she dived onto the bed next to Roxanna. The two girls peered at the carpet and scanned the floor. Something glinted beneath the bedside cabinet. Roxanna reached out towards it. Carefully, she took hold of the dice and brought it out into view. Six sparkling diamonds shone brightly. Nikki sank back onto the bed and breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Roxanna toyed with the dice between her right forefinger and thumb. ‘Lucky girl.’ She lay down next to Nikki, resting on her right elbow. Nikki reached for the Dictaphone once more. Roxanna stayed her hand. ‘How about one more throw?’

‘Double or quits? No thanks.’

‘No. Not so much double or quits. I was thinking more along the lines as to where the interview should take place.’

Nikki was starting to get the distinct impression that the princess was something of a slippery customer and so she replied, ‘There’s no time like the present.’

‘Now, now, no need to be so hasty. How about I roll again and, this time, if it comes up odd I do your interview here and now, but if it comes up even, you come to my island for a long weekend and see for yourself what we get up to there?’

Nikki’s mind raced. The offer seemed almost too good to be true. She tested the water to see if there was any catch. ‘I can’t afford to travel there.’

‘I’ll put my own private jet at your disposal. You’ll stay at my palace, so accommodation will be taken care of and, as you’re my guest, you won’t need to spend a single penny. Everything will be my treat. Apart from the poker chips on games night.’

The more Nikki considered it, the more she warmed to the idea. ‘How soon were you thinking?’

Roxanna shrugged. ‘Next weekend?’

Nikki reached out for the dice.

Roxanna withheld it. ‘Oh no you don’t! I roll this time.’

Nikki acquiesced; Roxanna rolled the dice. Again, it landed on a fold in the bedlinen and stuck up at an odd angle, part way between the three and four. Roxanna went to pick it up, intending to roll again. Feeling bold, Nikki tugged at the sheet, to straighten it out. The dice flipped over and came to rest with the four face up.

‘I told you that you have to try and make your own luck in life,’ Nikki said.

Roxanna formed a bridge with her hands and leant her chin on it. ‘That’s extremely cheeky of you, Ms Foster.’

‘Coming from you, I’ll take that as a compliment.’

‘Which is precisely how it was intended.’

‘So, what about travel arrangements?’

‘Leave your details with Matt and I’ll send my car to pick you up.’

As Nikki went to get off the bed, a sudden bump startled her. It sounded as if it had come from the adjoining room.

‘It’s just the Earl and his latest conquest,’ Roxanna explained. ‘The walls here aren’t particularly well soundproofed.’ She then took hold of Nikki’s hand. ‘Why not stay and listen to the fun?’

Nikki was on the verge of declining when she was interrupted by the sound of giggles echoing through the wall. The next moment, there was a scream of delight, quickly followed by laughter. Roxanna decided to treat her to a running commentary. ‘If I had to hazard a guess, I’d say that the Earl and his chosen one are lying on the bed, in a position not dissimilar to that in which we find ourselves.’ The adjoining room fell silent. ‘Ah, you know what that means don’t you?’

‘No.’

‘Yes you do,’ Roxanna insisted.

Nikki blushed slightly.

‘Don’t tell me you’ve never listened to anyone …?’

Nikki shook her head.

‘Come,’ Roxanna said, ‘let’s live a little vicariously.’

‘No.’

‘Now, now,’ the princess said. ‘I insist. So, Nikki Foster, when the laughter stops, what does it usually mean?’

Nikki was unsure how to reply. She also found it difficult to hold the princess’ gaze.

Roxanna twisted around on the bed so as to snuggle up next to her. ‘I bet that right at this very moment, they are in the throes of undressing one another. The Earl’s hands are probably reaching for her thus.’ Testing the water, Roxanna gently placed her left hand on Nikki’s right thigh. Nikki tensed, but was so intrigued by the thought of what was going on in the Earl’s room she didn’t remove it.

‘After an evening’s partying, the Earl is usually quite a fast mover, so I’m fairly sure that he’d be some way ahead of us. And I’ll also bet that the girl he’s with is responding in kind.’ At this, Roxanna gave her a meaningful look. Nikki met the princess’ gaze and found herself getting lost in her enticing hazel irises. ‘Just think, they’re probably down to their underwear by now. What do you think the girl will be wearing?’

‘I’m not sure,’ Nikki mumbled.

‘Come, that’s no fun. You’re supposed to guess. Let’s see, what are the options? How about a tight-fitting basque, hmm? Or stockings and suspenders? If so, she might have one of those lacy garters around her left thigh.’

‘I don’t think so.’

‘No?’

Gradually getting into the spirit of the game, Nikki said, ‘No. I think that she might well have gone to town for the evening. Maybe she’ll be wearing a peephole bra.’

Roxanna’s eyes lit up. ‘Really?’

‘Or possibly a half-cup or quarter-cup, even.’

‘So that her breasts will spill out the moment the Earl removes her top.’

Nikki nodded.

‘What about her panties?’ Roxanna asked. ‘Black? Red? Pink?’

‘Red.’

‘The most dangerous colour, don’t you agree?’

‘Absolutely. I also think they might well be see-through.’

Roxanna caught her breath. ‘How daring.’

At this point, Nikki couldn’t help thinking about the lacy red bra and panties that nestled snugly against her own curves.

The princess resumed her speculation. ‘Red it is, then. With a black lace trim. A sure sign that a girl is hoping they’ll be seen by the end of the night. Seen and appreciated.’

As Roxanna spoke, Nikki was aware that the girl’s hand had inched around and come to rest on her bottom. Only the fabric of Nikki’s dress separated it from the sinful red panties she was wearing.

‘Not that they’ll stay on for long. Naturally, the Earl will be eager to see what delights they’re hiding. He’ll strip them away from her body and then there’ll be that wonderful pause as they take in the sight of one another’s bare flesh.’

‘What about the Earl?’ Nikki asked.

‘Oh, he’ll have discarded his clothing by now, for sure. Men’s outfits are so boring by comparison, don’t you think?’

Nikki agreed. ‘So he’s already naked?’

‘Not quite. He may have left his briefs on.’

‘In the hope that she’ll remove them?’

‘Precisely,’ Roxanna said. ‘Why, I bet that at this very moment, she’s reaching out towards them. Her hands will take hold of the waistband. She’ll pause as they look into one another’s eyes. The atmosphere will be highly charged by now. Then, with a quick yank, she’ll jerk his shorts down and gasp in surprise as his cock springs out to attention, already impressively stiff and hard. I wonder if she’ll take it in her hand and stroke it. Or run her fingers down the shaft, as if gauging its length. Personally, I always like to give them a little treat at that point: lean down and feather the end with a delicate kiss.’

Nikki bit her bottom lip.

‘What?’ Roxanna asked.

‘I like to do that too,’ Nikki confessed. ‘It always feels so …’

‘Wicked?’

Nikki blushed slightly. ‘Yes.’

‘Especially if the lucky gent in question is already really excited. There’s nothing better than finding a touch of precome coating the tip of a man’s penis. Running your lips around it and licking it off.’

By now, Nikki could clearly envisage the scene that was taking place in the adjoining room.

‘The next thing,’ the princess continued, ‘the pair will kiss. Can you picture their tongues darting in and out of one another’s mouths?’ She paused momentarily to allow the image to implant itself in her companion’s mind. ‘Hands will begin to explore, touch, stroke, caress …’ As she spoke, she traced her hand around Nikki’s bottom, up the curve of her lower back, and then around her ribcage, until it eventually rested against her right breast.

‘In his eagerness, the Earl will force himself against her. Not that she’ll object, of course. He’ll slip his hand between her thighs.’ Roxanna’s voice lowered a notch. ‘She’ll already be wet with excitement.’ Nikki felt her own inner thighs start to tingle. ‘Aware of this, the Earl will ease himself into her.’

The next moment, the two women clearly heard a low gasp of pleasure through the wall.

‘What did I tell you?’ As if to confirm Roxanna’s commentary, the couple next door sighed again. ‘Ah, yes, he’s entered her now. Surprising, really, but he’s always had a penchant for the missionary position.’

For a second Nikki wondered how on earth the princess knew this. Only for a second though, for the next instant Roxanna’s hand began to massage her breast. ‘She’d like him to play with her tits, but I’m afraid our Earl is a man of routine. Instead, his hands find their way around her back and cup the girl’s bottom, to pull her harder towards him with every thrust he makes. She forgives him for ignoring her breasts because, as his rhythm increases, she starts to lose herself in the moment.’